The United States has never truly been an honest peace broker in the Middle East, but the one-sided “peace” plan cooked up by Jared Kushner and Donald Trump puts Washington over the top. It also places the U.S. in the same group as Russia and China, who have illegally annexed parts of or whole other countries.
Most recently, Russia annexed the Crimea. China has absorbed Tibet. Now Israel, with complete support of the White House, could add to its past illegal acquisition of Palestinian land under the guise of a so-called “peace” plan.
If this goes ahead, it will be an irreversible stain on Israel, Jews, the United States, and the United Nations. It will be shameful if Arabs, and more generally Muslims, do not take decisive steps to confront Israel and the United States.
Standing up to Aggressors
Jews suffered unspeakable horrors at the hands of Adolf Hitler in WWII. They were right to adopt the motto “never again” to protect themselves from any future discrimination and genocide. However, to be truly effective, Jews should not only stand firm against horrors against Jews but against the weak and all minorities anywhere around the world.
Sadly, Israel has not only discriminated against Arabs after the Holocaust – annexing their land, and without compensation – but now under this plan stands to essentially rob them of everything. While Israel may be able to get its way today, does it really believe that it can get away with this well into the future?
Washington has rightly criticized Russia for several such actions in the past, with Crimea being only the latest. But under this plan, the United States is doing something very similar, albeit hand-in-hand with an ally. Can the U.S. erase such a stain, and will any Arab or Muslim ever trust the United States again?
Arab Countries
While Arab countries are generally ruled by dictators who rely on America’s support to stay in power, it is questionable whether they continue to follow the U.S. line. Instead, they could take a page from Washington and sanction all Israeli entities, all U.S. entities doing business with Israel, and impose secondary sanctions on entities from other countries that defy these sanctions.
Yes, Arab countries will face economic losses, but if dictators do nothing, they risk bringing untold shame on all Arabs and being swept away.
Today, Arab leaders are akin to putty in U.S. hands. If Arab countries show resolve, they could enlist the support of some, if not most, Muslim countries. If they do, Washington will take note, respect them, and moderate its support for Israel.
The silence of most Muslim countries in the face of the crimes against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Uyghurs Muslims in China is a blemish on all Muslims. Muslim leaders have a chance to redeem themselves. Their continued silence regarding such crimes is utterly shameful.
It is indeed ironic that three members of the United Nations Security Council – China, Russia, and the U.S. – entrusted with the duty of protecting countries from outside aggression have in the past or are acting today as aggressors themselves. How can the weak trust the U.N. and its most powerful organ, the Security Council, when they fail in their most sacred duty?
The proposed “peace” plan, besides being a farce, is dangerous and could add a heavy dose of instability to what is already a highly fragile Middle East.